How do I fix my PS3's wireless connection?

Dec 4, 2012 2:54 PM

I'm having issues with my PS3's connection. I currently and paying for 20mbps download from Comcast (with a 10 mpbs boost). On my laptop, when I run a speed test, I get around a 20mbps download and 4mbps up. When I do a connection test on my PS3, I'm getting around 3mpbs (or less!) down and .5 mbps up. What's the deal!?

Both my laptop and PS3 are running off wirelessly using the same router. I turned off the media server option on the PS3 thinking that might be it but it hasn't helped really. Any ideas?

Top Answers

The PS3 wireless SUCKS! Go Ethernet cable if available. That is the only "fix" for it.
I tried using WiFi with mine and it was horrible, friend is having the same problem.
Hulu and Netlix lagged and online gaming was a joke. So much lag I couldn't spawn without dying. Went Ethernet and haven't had a problem since.
My router sits right next to my PS3 so there should have been no problems.
My Wii upstairs loads and plays better and faster on WiFi than the PS3 did.

@czarkingkaiser: If you don't want to drag cable across the room, you might try a powerline adapter. I have never used one for a game system, but I have used one for a Smart Blu-Ray player and a Roku and it works well.

Had the same problem, this is how I fixed it. I bought a refurbished entry level Cisco router that was compatible with dd-wrt, (don't recall the model off hand, but it was 20 bucks at New Egg). I installed dd-wrt and changed the mode to a bridge. Once I established the wireless bridge I placed the new router right next to the PS3 and connected it to one of the ports and the speed increased 10 fold. Basically it's a funky wireless adapter, but it works. I went ahead and connected my TV, DirecTV and blu-ray to it and they all work flawlessly

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The PS3 wireless SUCKS! Go Ethernet cable if available. That is the only "fix" for it.
I tried using WiFi with mine and it was horrible, friend is having the same problem.
Hulu and Netlix lagged and online gaming was a joke. So much lag I couldn't spawn without dying. Went Ethernet and haven't had a problem since.
My router sits right next to my PS3 so there should have been no problems.
My Wii upstairs loads and plays better and faster on WiFi than the PS3 did.

I second Ethernet. This is the best option. If other computers are wireless and you're on Cable Internet, then there might be a cable jack behind your TV. That would make wired much easier for you - just move your network behind your TV.

@wickedd365@omnichad: I live in a very old apartment (built in the '40s for Pentagon personnel during WWII). Only one cable jack across the room. That said, hardwiring isn't impossible, it just won't look good. Do you all have any idea what your down/up speed is when you're hardwired in?

@czarkingkaiser: I don't own a PS3, but I know wireless to be too slow on a number of devices, depending on both the router and the receiving device. And latency tends to suffer as well. I always just take the easy way out and wire as much as I can. As an apartment-dweller, I have most of my ethernet jammed between my baseboards and carpet - nearly invisible. And I use a wired connection on almost everything. But then it all gets ugly anyway, because I also have an outdoor TV antenna in my office, and run the antenna cable down the hall to the living room anyway, and it's too thick/shielded to hide it.

So in the living room, I have my HTPC, Roku, Blu-Ray player, and cordless phone (VoIP) on a switch behind my TV.

@czarkingkaiser: If you don't want to drag cable across the room, you might try a powerline adapter. I have never used one for a game system, but I have used one for a Smart Blu-Ray player and a Roku and it works well.

Had the same problem, this is how I fixed it. I bought a refurbished entry level Cisco router that was compatible with dd-wrt, (don't recall the model off hand, but it was 20 bucks at New Egg). I installed dd-wrt and changed the mode to a bridge. Once I established the wireless bridge I placed the new router right next to the PS3 and connected it to one of the ports and the speed increased 10 fold. Basically it's a funky wireless adapter, but it works. I went ahead and connected my TV, DirecTV and blu-ray to it and they all work flawlessly

@ryanwb: Can you dumb this down for me? what is dd-wrt? From what I understand, you got a new router essentially and placed it write next to the PS3 and then hardwired from that router into the PS3? Pretty ingenius idea if it worked.

@everybody: Just so I have a target speed to aim for, what are your download speeds you get from running the internet connection test through the PS3? I've heard you won't experience lag if you're getting 3mbps down, you just won't pull host when gaming online. Right now Black Ops 2 is unplayable for me. MW3 worked perfectly for me and I haven't made any changes to my set-up.

@czarkingkaiser: I definitely would have recommended @ryanwb 's idea if I knew you'd be up for it, but it's a bit more effort than most would want to put into it. It's the next-best thing to wired - basically you're using another router to be your PS3's wireless adapter instead of using the PS3's built-in wireless.

@czarkingkaiser: DD-wrt is an open firmware for compatible routers. You can take a piece of crap router and turn it into a router with features that would run $500 - $600 bucks. You can amplify the signal, adjust every aspect of it like you can on a high end router.

So I ended up hardwiring just to see what the difference is on the Internet connection speed. I went from 3 down, .5 up to about 19 down, 3 up. What I didn't notice a difference in was how Black Ops 2 played. That game is still laggy as all hell regardless of my connection. I tested out MW3 to see how that played, both wirelessly and wired up, and it was perfect in both cases.

I got this response on another forum, and it seems spot on:

"I have never had good results with the PS3 speed test results either wired or wirelessly even after hooking it up direct without a router. I think their test is just crap to be honest. I will have a 20 mb/s download speed on testing via my iphone, ipad, pc, and then get like 1.6 mb/s on the PS3. I stopped worrying about it. I play games and stream video lag-free even with those test results."

@czarkingkaiser: It sounds like the lag problems may have been with the game servers.

However, let me suggest the TRENDnet Wireless N Gaming Adapter in case you were looking for an alternative to the built-in Wifi on your PS3. I use the Trendnet Gaming Adapter on my Xbox 360 (just connects into the Ethernet port) and I have had no problems at all, and great speeds. You just set it up with your router using WPS Push Button Method, and that's it. I've had it for about a year and no complaints. Just a thought.

They sell a single port model (TEW-647GA), and a four port model (TEW-640MB). Amazon has a ton of reviews on these as well.

I had the same problem!
First try raising your console to a higher spot. If that doesn't work then you need to hook directly to your router. If the router is to far away then then you can find a wireless bridge for as low as $40 refurbished. This will amplify the signal.
Since the ps3 WiFi is weak from the factory these two thing are all you can do

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